The Indianapolis journal., 1887-12-18
THE OLD COUNCILS RECORD
What 1t Has Done Toward Improving
the City During the Last Two Years.
The Effect that Popular Clamor Has Had in
Shaping Legislation Relating to Sew
eral Rather Important Measures.

With its meeting tomorrow evening the old
Council closes its business and leaves the city's
Affairs to be taken up By IT'S successor. The
record of municipal legislation the past two
years has been marked by no noticeable indi-
Tidual efforts schemes. What the Council
has accomplished in i'm proving the city be
briefly told, the majority of its acts were con-
Hned to the usual grist of minor works. except
ing the Delaware-street block pavement. North
and Ray-street sewers. and the viaduct and
Union Depot ordinances. The latter, perhaps.
the most important of all measures passed,
vince their effect is not limited TO
the depot Improvement itself. Al
ready Illinois street in that locality IS
assuming great change through private enter
prise in building and more is contemplated. No
matter how old OF inconvenient the structure. if
it is anywhere near the depot it commands
good rental value, and this fact alone keeps
some owners from tearing them down imme-
diately and replacing them with modern build
iDEs A gentleman who owns row of the
worst looking houses in that neighborhood said
recently: 81 will build block in keeping with
The improvements that have been completed
and under construction Illinois street,
lust secure five years leases for
the Offices and rooms. The buildings there now,
although they dilapidated, and about
10 fall down, give me much rent as / could
sbtain from new block. Yet the change will
have TO be made sooner or later, whether or not
get the leases am after"
On account OF difference of opinion between
the Council and the Union Railway Company,
the visduct will not likely be built for some
months to come The trouble lies in the unwill-
ingness of the citys representatives to assume
possible liability in judgments for extra dam
ages the courts may allow some property hold
srs who dissatisfied with the assessments
made by the city commissioners along the via
ducts way Suits pending in which
the eity-not the Union Railway Company-is
defendant, but under the ordinance providing
.or the work the latter is TO pay all dam
ages 1t has already turned $36, 900, the
total amount of damages assessed, into the
treasury and is disncliued TO pay any more.
However, IL the city assumes the possible judg-
ments il will begin the viaduct at once. II not,
indefinite delay will occur. for there is moth
ing in the ordinance compelling the company
20 begin the structure within specified time.
he proposition of the company regarding these
judgments was strongly opposed by the South
side councilmen, whose part OF the city
t is supposed has been the most
persistent for the construction of the viaduct.
II this part of the Union Depot Improvement
lad been under way, the Council could
OF PROJECT snas ds. o1 i,, 1pom
YORK. and no little striving on the part of the
sity and the company to get the best of the ar
fangement Those who favor the proposition
30 assume the burden OF the suits named think
that the company is sntided to that concession,
since it is argued the city got nearly every point
ior which ir coutended.
While the Council that s about to pass into
history had good workers among it's members it
vas easily staynreded. "A full lobby of citizens
more than one occasion caused several mem
bers to do things they afterwards modified by
their speeches and votes. When the telephone
agitation began year ago last March fight
uaa %ho TTr.11
bUt when the special committee reported
ordinances re5eaing its privileges, those who |
at first stood by the company voted unani- |
asly in effect to destroy it After the Council
got away from popular clamor it displayed more |
courage and though in the meantime it had |
granted franchise to every company that asked |
for it and passed resolutions ordering the
commissioner to tear down the Central Unions |
wires and poles it finally allowed the Central |
people by unanimous vote. to continue under
the toll system. Very much the same spirit has
been shown in natural gas legislation. A lobby |
and popular views rather than the !
victions of members shaped the ordinance. In |
deed it is largely to the credit of the councilmen
that they took their constituents into confidence;
but sometimes their constituents were exscting |
and yet while privately expressing one view |
their representatives spoke publicly and voted |
For another.
There has been during the past two years but |
little shifting for political advantage. The most |
noticeable instance was the cow ordinance. which |
The Democrats from the outset of that measure /
tried 10 make a party issue. 1t took several |
ID finally accomplished close vote. The
Board of Aldermen. however, had clear major
ity fayoring the keeping of the off the
streets. Councilman Coy the animals
champion in his board, while Alderman King
led himself, Laut and Rail against the or
ainance.
The Council and Board of Aldermen began
well in calling Colonel Johnson to account for
mis- shortcomings in the streetcar service, but |
the ordinances introduced and motions passed |
TO that end have come to naught The work, if
il is done at all, must be recommended, unless
the Aldermen pass the ordinance that in the
keeping OF their committee railroads at its
last meeting, which occurs a week from to NOR
row night. While both bodies claim credit |
for providing for a competitive line, it is
theless true that since that effort Colonel John
son has practically regained his influence with
certain members who strongly opposing |
him when the fever was
In regard to expenditures. the finance commit
tees of both bodies have made fair record.
They have been neither extravaganza nor par
sImonious. At times there were tendencies to
start expensive schemes, but they never got
further than the members who talked in their
favor. With Tomlinson Hall and the market
house completed, the eouncilmen and aldermen
thought they had done enough for while.